15th November - olivia picks up the "Tui" for "Best Pacific Album

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3rd October 2020 Olivia wins "Best Pacific Album"

Brilliant! So happy!!

Posted by Julie Foai on Saturday, October 3, 2020

13th of June 2020 - Te Vaka Beats Vol. 2 
 

Te Vaka Beats Vol.2"TE VAKA BEATS Vol 2" is 13 tracks of pure percussion power. This is the second album written by Te Vaka's master percussionist - Matatia Foai and produced by Opetaia Foai. "Te Vaka Beats Vol.2 " is a logdrum/percussion and chant style album which has gone places logdrums have probably not gone before. Drummers and dancers will find many exciting and challenging beats for choreography.|

Mastered at "The Bakery" in LA by grammy award winning mastering engineer, Eric Boulanger the log and skin drums are sounding richer than ever.

Plus - This is the first Te Vaka album available as a high-quality download (Apple digital Master) from itunes. It will also be available for download and streaming on all the usual services.

A limited number of autographed copies are available for pre-order until the 13th June.
13th June is the release date!

 

 

"CANDID" out now!

   
Olivia Foa'i - Candid  Olivia Foa'i - Candid


 

22nd July 2019 - Brand new single from Olivia Foa'i

 

Olivia Foa'i -

A bold follow up to her last single, “My Way”, here is “Hau La”. A contagious pop track featuring some Tokelauan language and Polynesian rhythms. Produced again by her brother (master percussionist of Te Vaka and composer of “Te Vaka Beats”) Matatia Foa’i.

 Click here for "Hau la"

The music video comes out July 29.

 

 18 Jul 2018 - Te Vaka performs "Songs of Moana" live with Orchestra

 A brief trip to New Zealand this month saw 4 very rare and unsurprisingly, sold out, concerts from Te Vaka. It was a unique and powerful collaboration between Opetaia Foa'i, Te Vaka and 3 different New Zealand Orchestras (Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington), resulting in the live experience: "Songs of Moana". Having many of the same voices and musicians found on the movie's soundtrack, and supported by the power of 60-something-piece orchestras, the show was an undeniable hit among adults and children alike. 

"Every single item was stirring, effective, and excellently executed, holding the attention of and entertaining all in the audience, young and old...." "...It’s fair to say that Songs of Moana was a huge success..." - Ihlara McIndo, The Wave 

"In the case of Moana, the music's sheer musicality and character carries it safely through to the other side, especially when it is performed with high spirited verve by a group which has established itself as one of today's leading musical voices of the Pacific." - Christopher Moore, The Press 

"The area in front of the stage was soon swarming with children dancing and singing their hearts out, and the rest of the audience were captivated by the band’s superb renditions of these well-known songs." - Mike Crowl, Otago Daily Times 

 

 

21 May 2018 - Moana wins at the Billboard Awards

Moana soundtrack winner Billboard Music Awards

 

18 April 2018 - Nomination news

 It has been a great year for "Lakalaka" so far, currently a finalist in the ISC "World Music" category and nominated in 3 Pacific Music Awards Categories: Best Pacific Music Video (directed by Olivia Foa'i), Best Pacific Song and Best Pacific Language (Awards show to be held May 24th). In addition, our manager Julie Foa'i is nominated once again at the Music Manager's Forum this year in 2 categories this time, "International Achievement" and "Manager of the Year". 

12 February 2018 - Olivia Foa'i makes her solo debut

Our very own Olivia Foa'i released her first solo R&B/Pop single - "City Got Your Name on It" watch the music video!

28th November,2017 - Moana is nominated for two Grammys

Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foai, Tom MacDougal

 Opetaia Foa'i, Lin-Manuel Miranda,  Mark Mancina & Tom MacDougal are nominated for: 

"Moana: The Songs" for "Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media,"

The awards will be held in New York on the 28th of January 2018 - watch this page.....!




19th November, 2017 - Moana wins "Top Soundtrack" at the AMA's

Moana Soundtrack - Top Soundtrack award
 

Up against Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and TrollsMoana    (music co-written by Opetaia Foa'i and Lin-Manual Miranda and scored by Mark Mancina) takes Top Soundtrack in the 2017 American Music Awards!

 

 

 


16th November, 2017 - Opetaia Foa'i is honoured for "International Achievement" at the Vodafone Music Awards  
Opetaia wins International achievement award

 

 

After a powerful opening performance of "We Know the Way" and "Tulou Tagaloa", Opetaia received the International Achievement Award at this years VNZMAs. The other recipient of this recognition was Lorde. 

 

  

Opetaia Olivia and Supa Saintzup performers

Opetaia Olivia and Supa Saintzup performers

 Jul. 28, 2017

 

Walt Disney Records to Release Te Vaka's Greatest Hits, 8/11

Walt Disney Records is set to release Te Vaka Greatest Hits, which features 10 songs culled from the group's 8 albums, plus a new previously unreleased track, "Lakalaka." The music video for "Lakalaka" will be released on the band's YouTube channel HERE on August 11. The digital album will be available on August 18. The physical CD will be available on October 6 and can be pre-ordered HERE.

Te Vaka, a unique 11-piece group, has enchanted the world with its music, costume and dance of the South Pacific for more than two decades. Combining the timeless roots of Polynesian music with contemporary influences and dance, audiences are taken on a journey into the Pacific Islands, into the heart of Polynesia.

Opetaia Foa'i, the founder and lead singer of Te Vaka, is a multi award-winning songwriter, celebrated for his dedication to telling the stories of the South Pacific.

Foa'i was part of the diverse and dynamic team behind Disney's "Moana" inspired music, which also included Tony-, Emmy- and Grammy-winning songwriter/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and three-time Grammy-winning composer Mark Mancina ("Speed," "Tarzan" and the Oscar-winning "Training Day"). In addition to co-writing several songs for the film and soundtrack, the score also featured contributions from Te Vaka's singers and log drummers.

The "Moana" soundtrack has spent 23 weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and has remained on that chart for all 35 weeks of its release.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

1st June 2017 - And the winners are.......
 

The Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement goes to Opetaia Foai

And the winner of the Best Pacific Language award for "Tulou Tagaloa" goes to Olivia Foa'i

Olivia Foa'i, daughter of Opetaia, wins her first award for Tulou Tagaloa, the opening track she performs on the Disney Feature film "Moana". When Opetaia and Olivia Foai flew to New Zealand to attend the Pacific Music awards they had no idea of what they were about to witness as the opening number paid tribute to Opetaia's achievements with a spectacular and moving performance by the   "Saintz up performing arts trust" of many of the songs he had written for "Moana". The Te Vaka performers, who had originally sung the songs on the movie, along with Opetaia seated in the front row of the Vodafone event centre, were filled with emotion as they watched the young performers deliver the songs.

 Olivia Foai winner Best Pacific Language


10th May 2017- Winner International Achievement award

Winner of the International Achievement Award

Julie Foai was the winner of the "International Achievement" award for 2017. The MMF Music Managers awards night was held at the Spark Arena in Auckland and acknowledged and awarded Managers of successful New Zealand artists.

19th APRIL - 2017 PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Olivia Foai finalist for Best Pacific Female Artist AwardVirgin Australia Best Pacific Female Artist Award
Many thanks to Universal Music New Zealand for nominating Te Vaka members for the Moana Soundtrack album in the Pacific Music Awards. The finalists were announced last night and as well as Olivia, include Opetaia Foai for "We know the way" (Best Pacific Song) and Vai Mahina for "Innocent Warrior" (Best Pacific Language). The awards night will we held in Auckland on the 1st of June.

11th APRIL - 2017 MUSIC MANAGERS AWARDS(MMF)

- FINALISTS ANNOUNCED 

Julie Foai Te Vaka Manager

Julie Foai, Te Vaka Manager,  is a finalist for "International Achievement" Winners announced on the 10th of May.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13th November - NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE OF MOANA

20th November - OPETAIA PERFORMS "WE KNOW THE WAY" AT LONDON PREMIERE

14th November - TE VAKA ROCKS THE BLUE CARPET

The Moana Premiere at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood was spectacular in every way. Opetaia and Te Vaka joined Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, Auli'i Cravalho. the film makers, drectors and many more on a night that show cased the South Pacific culture and music.

El Capitan theater in Hollywood
 
   
   
   
 
 Pictures by Julie Foai  

 

THE INTERNATIONAL MOVIE CONVENTION

Te Vaka flys to the Goldcoast for a one off performance at the International Movie convention held at Jupiters Casino and Theatre in the Gold Coast.

Te Vaka at Jupiters
The team that performed a song from Moana
For the International Movie Convention
Joe and Livy at Jupiters
Joe and Livy just before performance
 Te Vaka with Heilani dancers

Te Vaka was a highlight of the
International Movie Convention
performing a track written
by Opetaia for the upcoming
Disney animated feature film -
Moana. Te Vaka was joined by
the Heilani dancers from Brisbane.
The event was held at Jupiters
casino and theatre in
Broadbeach.

 

 


TE VAKA SINGERS RECORD VOCALS FOR MOANA AT WARNER BROS STUDIOS

 
Opetaia and Mark Mancina recording vocals for Moana Sulata, Vai, Melodee and Olivia at Warner Bros
 Matatia  Douglas and Talaga at Warners singing for Moana
 Soundstage control room at Warners  Te Vaka at Warner Bros Recording Studio
 The whole Te Vaka crew at Warners  Te Vaka with the music team at Warners
The Te Vaka singers from 1994 to present time arrived in LA on the 20th of August to add the magic Te Vaka sound to the songs and score of the upcoming Moana movie. The experience for the band and the Disney music team was nothing short of  incredible to read more click here                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 
 
 
 
Media release pacific - 1
June 9, 2016
 

VINCE HARDER AND TE VAKA BIG WINNERS IN VODAFONE PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS

 
Much-loved music and dance group Te Vaka and multi-talented Vince Harder have taken out the top accolades at the 12th annual Vodafone Pacific Music Awards. 

 
Te Vaka’s achievement is significant as it secured both the Best Song and Best Album awards, while Vince Harder took home no fewer than three awards – for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Auckland Council Best Pacific Urban Artist and MAINZ Best Producer – showcasing the diversity of his abilities. 

 
Te Vaka has won the APRA Best Pacific Song award for ‘Papua I Sisifo’, written by band member Opetaia Foa’i. The group also took out the Recorded Music NZ Best Pacific Music Album for ‘Amataga’, its 8th collection of songs released in late 2015. 

 
For more than two decades Te Vaka has occupied a central space in Pacific music and dance, under the inspired leadership of Foa'i. The group has toured the world and performed at important global occasions including America’s Cup events in Auckland, the Commonwealth games in Melbourne, the Rugby World Cup in Paris and the Olympic Games in Beijing. 

 
Te Vaka is a regular visitor to the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards podium having won numerous accolades over the years. The group’s songwriter and lead vocalist Opetaia Foa’i was noticeably missing from the awards ceremony but for good reason; he is currently writing the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney film Moana. 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Moana: The Kiwi musician behind the next Disney blockbuster

MIKE ALEXANDER Sunday Star Times
Last updated 05:00, May 1 2016

Opetaia Foai 

Te Vaka - we are family

January 24 2016
Sunday Star Times
Opetaia, Matatia Olivia Manase and the rest of the Te Vaka family
 

Kiwi songwriter hits the big time with new Disney soundtrack

NZ-based group joins next big Disney movie

Opetaia, Te Vaka and Dwayne the rock Johnson

Te Vaka with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who will star in Disney's 'Moana'. Photo / Facebook

By Vaimoana Tapaleao

A New Zealand Pacific band has been chosen to lend their voices to Disney's next big movie - Moana.

Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers from various Pacific Island backgrounds based in New Zealand.

Their unique music - a blend of traditional Island and contemporary tunes - has taken them around the world and they have a huge following around the Pacific region.

Led by composer and lead singer Opetaia Foa'i, the group will perform on the Moana soundtrack; for which Foa'i has been chosen to be one of its song writers alongside award-winning composers Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina, who worked on the Tarzan and The Lion King soundtracks.

The announcement came over the weekend at Disney's D23 Expo in the US, where Te Vaka was invited to perform one of the film's key songs: We Know The Way.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - who is the voice behind one of the main characters in the film, Maui - introduced Te Vaka as "aiga" (Samoan for family) before they took to the stage.

 

Speaking to the crowd, Johnson, who is half Samoan on his mother's side, said: "I am so excited to be with you here today to talk a little bit about Maui and our incredible story about Moana....Samoa is in my blood and to tell a story inspired by the South Pacific is truly a great honour."

Speaking to the Herald from the US yesterday, Foa'i said they were shocked when approached by Disney two years ago.

 

"They went searching for a song writer from the Pacific and [my wife] Julie noticed that somebody had ordered everything on our site and then she noticed it said Disney at the bottom of the email.

"Then they brought me over here, so they could meet me...They thought they were checking me out, but I was checking them out. I didn't want to be involved with a movie that's going to make our culture look silly.

"I sit in on meetings with every top director in Disney and I speak my mind - and they listen. These people really care and they really want to present respectfully the culture of the South Pacific. I tell you, this movie is going to be something very special."

Foa'i travelled with some of the film's producers and directors to New Zealand and Samoa for research purposes and included an undercover visit to Auckland's Pasifika Festival last year.

The highly anticipated film, which is due out next year in November, follows a young girl named Moana Waialiki who travels the seas to fulfil her ancestors' unfinished quest. Along the way she meets demi-god Maui, who helps her along the way.

New Zealand already has a connection to the movie in Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi, who is behind the film's script.